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Chapter 93: Soft Jade in His Arms

Ashura became playful, for the chance to ride a tier-7 Beast was a thrill few could experience.

While he was having a great time, he turned his head and saw Ella gazing at him with affectionate eyes.

The rushing wind plastered Ella’s magic robe against her body, outlining every alluring curve and making Ashura’s eyes nearly pop out.

Catching his lecherous stare, Ella shot him a shy glare and tilted her chin toward the front, reminding him that her grandfather was still ahead.

Ashura reluctantly withdrew his gaze, unaware that Grand Archmage Aiwei, still facing forward, had clenched his fist inside his sleeve until his knuckles turned white.

At the Flame-Phoenix’s speed they soon reached a clearing on a hillside, the rendezvous point set by the search teams, and Grand Archmage Aiwei had already summoned the others there.

The three jumped down from the Flame-Phoenix; Ashura still felt reluctant to leave, but the beast gave him a hard sweep with its wing, knocking him back before strutting off with its head held high.

Ashura narrowed his eyes in annoyance, wondering when he could pluck every feather off that animal, for he was not the forgiving type and always remembered his grudges.

Before he could plot his retaliation against the Flame-Phoenix, several sharp whooshes came from the forest, and a search party led by Instructor Enge burst out of the trees.

When they saw Ella and Ashura, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

The young Instructor Anthony hurried to Ella with concern in his eyes, saying, “The God of War has blessed us, Ella, I’m so glad you’re safe, do you know how worried I was?” as he reached out to take her hand.

But Ella stepped back, her face icy, and said, “Thank you for the concern, Instructor Anthony; as long as you’re fine, there’s no need to worry about me.”

Hearing her resolute words, Instructor Anthony froze mid-reach, painfully aware that his act of saving himself earlier had made Ella completely lose faith in him.

Now that things had come to this, he could only force a bitter smile, knowing he no longer had any chance with the goddess of his heart.

Ashura stood by, watching the drama with indifference, knowing that although Ella usually treated people kindly, her pride ran deep and anyone she dismissed would never enter her world again.

Before he could finish enjoying the scene, more footsteps rustled above and several searchers dashed out, one slender figure hurrying to a stop right in front of him.

Ashura stared in surprise at Clara, whose magic robe was filthy, face pale, eyes red, and silver hair tangled with blades of grass.

It was the first time he had seen the girl in such a sorry state, having only ever seen her noble and graceful side.

Seeing Clara stare at him motionlessly, Ashura tried to ease the awkwardness; he lifted a friendly smile, waved his hand before her eyes, and said, “Long time no see!”

The moment the words left his mouth, the silver-haired girl closed her eyes and fell straight toward him.

Ashura hurriedly caught her with both arms; the sudden situation left him flustered despite the softness of the beauty in his embrace.

Instructor Enge sighed beside him, saying, “After you fell off the cliff, we ordered all students to withdraw from the Beast Forest, but this girl insisted that the missing ones were from her class and her instructor, and she refused to leave early.”

“She searched with us in the Beast Forest for three days and suffered quite a bit, so she must be exhausted now!”

After hearing this, Ashura bowed slightly to the instructors in thanks, then lifted Clara onto his back, ignoring the jealous looks nearby and preparing to leave the Beast Forest with the instructors.

Grand Archmage Aiwei’s bearded mouth twitched, and with a wave of his large hand he ordered everyone back to the academy.

He himself mounted the Flame-Phoenix and returned ahead, for he still had to lecture the graduating students at the academy.

Carrying Clara on his back, Ashura followed the instructors to the forest’s edge where dragon horses awaited, and they all mounted and sped toward the academy.

Ella approached with a smile and offered to tend to the unconscious Clara, but Ashura refused, saying her own injuries had not yet healed.

Ignoring Ella’s increasingly frosty smile, he held Clara in his arms and urged the dragon horse into a swift gallop.

Lust did not cloud his mind; he was simply moved by the efforts the girl had made over the past three days to find him, for Ashura was always grateful to those who treated him well and sought every way to repay them.

Since Clara had collapsed from exhaustion while searching for him, he felt duty-bound to escort her safely back to the academy and would not entrust her to anyone else.

Halfway through the journey, the girl in his arms slowly opened her misty eyes and needed a moment to realize she was galloping on horseback, held close by Ashura.

Clara’s pretty face flushed at once; she wriggled, trying to leave that warm embrace, but the strong arm around her slender waist tightened abruptly.

Ashura said calmly, “Stop moving, rest easy, I’m taking you back to the academy.”

Clara’s ears turned red at his words; she squirmed a few more times for show, then pouted, “Why are you so overbearing? And to think I worried about you for so long!”

She quickly lifted her pretty face again and asked with concern, “You’re not hurt, are you? These past few days I… we… were worried sick!”

Ashura glanced down at the fragile beauty in his arms, felt a sudden heat in his lower abdomen, and hurriedly suppressed the rising desire.

Acting nonchalant, he said, “I’m fine, it was a close call but nothing serious; I’ll tell you later… hold my waist, I’m speeding up!”

Irritated by his perfunctory answer, Clara tapped his chest with her little fist, then, ears burning, buried her head against him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Ashura’s potent masculine aura was like strong wine, making Clara’s cheeks ever redder and her head dizzy as countless thoughts swirled inside her.

She dared not look up, yet the closeness let her clearly feel the muscular body beneath Ashura’s loose magic robe.

The first intimate contact with a boy left Clara slightly at a loss; she had no idea what to say and simply nuzzled deeper into Ashura’s chest.

Though he appeared focused on riding, Ashura’s heart was equally unsettled, for the tighter Clara pressed against him the more acutely he felt the soft mounds squashed against his chest.

Ashura was no innocent youth; after three days of flirting with Ella without going all the way, the unspent fire inside him could hardly be contained.

When Clara belatedly guessed what the hard object against her waist was, she panicked and almost fell off the dragon horse.

Fortunately, Ashura pulled her back as though nothing had happened, but the mortified Clara twisted the flesh at his waist with both delicate hands.

And so, baring his teeth in pain, Ashura held the beauty and spurred the horse toward the academy.

The setting sun stretched their shadows far, far across the ground…

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